MacOS Big Sur downloads are very slow as the next generation Mac software has just launched, at the same time, Apple's dev site appears to be down. (First, if yours is an Intel Mac, check that Safari is not running in Rosetta, which is enough to slow it to a crawl.) Adding DNS codes to your Network Settings, should gives good results in terms of speed-up: Open System Preferences/Network. Double click on your connection type, or select it in the drop-down menu. Effectively speed up your Mac: According to our test, the Mac runs 2x faster than before after using Umate Mac Cleaner. Efficiently fix the macOS Big Sur slow issue: It can make your Mac faster in just simple clicks. Very easy to use: No professional knowledge required even for novice users. Wide compatibility. Umate Mac Cleaner is fully. If you use the Mail app on your Mac and notice that it seems to have slowed down, you can try rebuilding the message index databases to see if that will help. The more email addresses and the more mail you save, the more likely this is to assist with a slow system.
Does this sound familiar to you? You were sitting in front of your Macbook Pro surfing the Internet or working on a project. All of a sudden, you saw the spinning beach ball.
One second, two seconds…finally you started to cry out: “Why is my Mac laptop so slow?”
Though Mac machines are generally considered to be faster than Windows PCs, it’s not uncommon for a Mac to start acting up with symptoms like taking forever to boot, freezing while opening an app, or mouse cursor becoming unresponsive, etc.
You are not alone!
As Apple advocates for more than a decade, we’ve probably encountered more performance issues than you. Fortunately, we were able to fix most of them, and today we still use our old MacBooks from time to time.
Here we are going to share the fixes we’ve discovered along the way, and you are going to learn:
The tips below should also apply to other types of Macs such as iMac, MacBook Air, Mac Pro/Mini, etc. Use the Table of Contents below for better navigation.
Contents
Whether you own an old 2012 MacBook Pro, or a shiny new 16-inch 2020 Touch Bar MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip, over time it can run slowly. There could be so many causes, but in general, they all fall into the following four categories.
1. Personal Habits. If you keep your Mac running all the time, let too many apps join the fun on startup, or multitask with loads of heavy applications open — more often than not, your Mac will hang.
2. macOS System. A newer macOS usually performs better than an old one, but no system is perfect. You may experience firmware or permission issues that impede performance as well.
3. Software Issues. Apps, whether pre-installed or third-party ones downloaded elsewhere, can consume lots of system resources when used improperly, which eventually will slow down a Mac.
4. Outdated Hardware. Every piece of hardware has a lifespan; your Macbook is no exception. An outdated hard drive or lack of RAM can be the bottleneck of your machine.
These are just the high-level reasons. Check out this infographic that outlines 26 specific reasons why a Mac might run slowly. You may find what’s hanging up your machine.
Note: If your MacBook Pro is slow only after updating to the latest macOS version (i.e. macOS 11.0 Big Sur), the best fix would be restarting your machine several times since the new macOS needs time to re-index or update data saved in the disk drive. For example, Photos can take a while to update the entire picture library; Spotlight re-indexing tends to be time-consuming as well. Learn more from this post: Quick Fixes for a Slow Mac after macOS Big Sur Update
Now that you’ve learned the reasons behind a slow mac, what should you do to fix it? We break down the solutions into two categories:
Note though, the solutions we suggest below only work when your Mac can boot up normally. If it cannot, or you hear strange sounds coming from the machine (particularly from the internal Mac hard drive), contact Apple support or schedule an appointment with a Genius Bar in your area.
The methods introduced below are the best manual fixes we have explored. The order is based on a combination of estimated time required and expected effectiveness after implementation. They are, however, by no means the only solutions, and you don’t have to complete all the methods as it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to. Meanwhile, read this checklist on how to speed up Macbook Pro.
When to use: your MacBook Pro runs extremely slow on startup.
Why it helps: disabling login items (auto-run applications or services) you rarely use helps your Mac better allocate system resources to load the processes you do use, you’ll reach the login or desktop screen more quickly.
How to do: follow the steps in this YouTube video.
When to use: your Macbook Pro takes a bit longer to load the first screen after startup.
Why it helps: because macOS treats each desktop item (be it a file, a Dock application, or a Dashboard widget) as a small task, it uses resources to load it when starting up. Reducing the number of such items can make the first screen show up quicker.
How to do:
When to use: your Macbook Pro is running out of space, and it slows down or freezes more frequently.
Why it helps: macOS utilizes free hard disk space as “virtual memory” in addition to RAM (Random Access Memory). If your MacBook Pro is running out of storage, that means little virtual memory can be used by the system if needed. This may cause your Mac to freeze more frequently — even when you just launch a few apps. In general, having at least 10% of free disk space can often prevent the problem from happening.
How to do: try the tricks below.
Note: if you want to save time, CleanMyMac is a nice tool for this purpose. It automatically detects and cleans extra junks that can take up gigabytes of disk space.
Update: beginning with OS X El Capitan (including macOS Sierra), it’s no longer necessary to verify or repair permissions as Apple has made system file permissions to be automatically protected.
When to use: your Macbook has issues launching some applications, and doing so slows down your Mac.
Why it helps: corrupted or damaged file permissions can cause certain applications to run abnormally or unable to run at all, thus affecting the overall Mac performance. Matt from CNET brought his sluggish Mac back to health using this method. Note: it’s harmless to repair file permissions.
How to do: check out this YouTube video for a step by step guide.
When to use: your web browser (Safari, Chrome, or Firefox, etc.) just seems stubborn to load pages or becomes unresponsive.
Why it helps: web browsers are notorious for dragging down computer performance after extended use. By implementing the things below, you can expect a much smoother net surfing experience.
How to do:
When to use: your Macbook starts to run slower after opening several applications, but you have no idea which application is the culprit.
Why it helps: Activity Monitor is a task manager on Mac that shows you both running applications and inactive processes. The list allows you to have a clear understanding of which one is devouring too many system resources (CPU, memory, disk, network, etc). Once you find the culprit, you can also use Activity Monitor to quit or force quit the app/process easily.
How to do: see this video from MacWorld.
When to use: your Macbook Pro acts oddly (it takes forever to figure out which disk to boot from, it’s slow to shut down, the fan is running non-stop, screenshots are not adjusting correctly, battery indicator lights are behaving incorrectly, etc.), and overall your Mac performs poorly.
Why it helps: NVRAM (or PRAM in older Macs) stores certain settings in a location that macOS can access quickly. SMC has roles in controlling thermal and power management on Mac. Resetting NVRAM and SMC helps resolve the issues mentioned above, and it’s a safe thing to do.
How to do: check out this video for how to properly reset NVRAM and this video for SMC.
When to use: your Mac is still running an older macOS version (e.g. High Sierra or Mojave), and you meet the basic requirements of the new upgrade — latest macOS 11.0 Big Sur, you need at least 2 GB of RAM and 15 GB of free space on the drive.
Why it helps: a newer macOS version typically runs faster than an older one, though it depends on the model of your Mac machine.
How to do: there are a few things you need to check before getting ready to update your MacBook to macOS Big Sur. For example, check whether your model is compatible, whether you have enough storage space, and most importantly backup your data, etc.
When to use: best for those who are using an older Mac with limited hardware configuration, and don’t particularly favor fancy interfaces and visual effects.
Why it helps: by disabling or turning off features like Notifications, Transparency, and Animations, Magnification, File Vault, etc., you can boost Mac performance since fewer system resources will be used.
How to do:
When to use: you are using an old Macbook Pro, and you’ve tried every method you can to fix your slow Mac but it’s still slow.
Why it helps: adding more memory (RAM) or replacing your HDD (hard disk drive) with a new SSD (solid-state drive) will give your Mac a real boost in performance. The only con is the upgrades can be pricey.
How to do:
Note: whether you choose to upgrade RAM or SSD, you’ll need to open the bottom case of your MacBook, a screwdriver may worth adding to your shopping cart as it will help you remove the screws much faster.
Add extra RAM: depending on your MacBook model, the RAM that best fits may be different. Learn more from our review here. It’s best to also check out this page to see memory specifications for your Macbook Pro model. It comes with an illustrated guide on how to replace the memory. This video from is also worth checking out.
Upgrade to an SSD: If you still want to use your old MacBook Pro for professional work (video/graphic editing, 3D modeling, etc.), the best option is to replace the hard drive with a speedy SSD, see our picks here. Once you purchase your desired SSD, watch this video for how to install it step by step.
The manual methods can be quite time-consuming to implement and may require you to have a certain level of technical skills. Fortunately, we’ve got two awesome Mac optimization apps that can save you time fixing your slow Mac.
CleanMyMac X – an app developed by MacPaw and rated as the winner in this Mac cleaner software review. As its name indicates, this app aims to help you clean your Mac and free up more storage space. It does this by locating junk and unnecessary files via analyzing your macOS system: Photos, Mail attachments, large and old files, etc. In addition, you can use the app to batch uninstall unwanted programs, and permanently erase files that are private to you. CleanMyMac is super sleek and intuitive, just hit Scan to get started and then Clean to fix issues.
MacBooster – an app developed by the IObit team. This app stands out for its all-in-one concept. It includes a handful of useful utilities that can monitor the overall status of your Mac system. The Virus & Malware Scan module, for example, helps identify possible security threats and removes malware. To get started, simply run a quick System Status scan and it will find and suggest fixes. You can also move on to the Tools sections for further optimization.
Do you find the information and techniques we’ve shared above helpful? Did you manage to tune up your MacBook even a little bit? We’d like to hear from you, contact us and let us know.
Fair disclosure: we are just normal loyal Mac fans like you. We don’t claim ourselves to be Mac experts, nor have we ever worked for Apple. All the information shared here is merely a walk-through of the knowledge and experience we’ve used to resolve our own Macbook Pro performance issues. Due to the complexities of the subject matter, your results may vary. Also, some of the recommendations contain third-party affiliate links. If you decide to purchase one of them, we will receive a commission for the sale, part (if not all) of the earnings will be used to maintain this site, for example, paying for the domain and hosting services. Nonetheless, we recommend them because we use the tools with our Mac machines and find them truly great. Make sure you only use what works for your issue, and don’t over-spend on things you don’t need.
This page was last updated on Mar. 24, 2021.
/Mac Cleaner /Why Is Chrome So Slow on Mac? Fixes with Common Problems
I have a MacBook Pro and I love to use it for different purposes. I use it to edit photos and videos. Also, I utilize it for watching videos and checking out images. But most importantly, I use it to surf the net. But I have recently noticed that I’m having problems surfing the net using Google Chrome on my Mac.
So why is my browser so slow? The Google Chrome running slow on Mac issue hapens often. How do I fix this to speed up my Google Chrome Mac?
Article GuidePart 1. Why is My Chrome Browser So Slow?Part 2. How Do I Speed up Chrome on Mac?Part 3. Common Problems Cause Chrome Running Slow on Mac (Fixed)Part 4. How to Set up Chrome?Part 5. In Conclusion
Google Chrome has the lion share of the market when it comes to browsers. However, it is still prone to problems. Some people experience that Chrome running slow on Mac. Sometimes, it even crashes, freezes, or refrains from loading altogether. Some people experience that pages do not load on Google Chrome anymore.
If you are having problems with Google Chrome slow on Mac, you might also have noticed that too many apps on your Mac are eating out your application memory. Why is Chrome slow on Mac Catalina? The poor performance of Chrome is caused by a lot of factors. Fortunately, we have created this article to help you troubleshoot the most common problems of Google Chrome on Mac devices.
So you may want to know why is Chrome so slow on Mac, here are some of the reasons:
'Why is Chrome being so slow? Why is my Mac so slow after update? Why is my Mac running slow and hot? Is Chrome bad for Mac?' You may have lots of problems this time. Do you think that your Google Chrome makes MacBook hot? Before you actually fix the issue of Chrome running slow on Mac and slow MacBook, you have to make sure that the problem is not caused by your Mac device or operating system. For example, outdated system caches can result in Chrome plugins crashing altogether. This also is what causes Mac to run slow. Sometimes, It's your Mac that runs slowly and it just needs space to enhance its performance. If Mac Osx running slow is the case, you should use a tool called iMyMac PowerMyMac to delete purgeable space on Mac to free your device for space so that can speed up a slow Mac.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use this tool to speed up Chrome:
Wait for the cleaning process to be complete. After it is done, it will show Zero KB for folders you have deleted. Some folders will not be marked as such because these are auto-recreated folders. It not only speeds up your Mac but also helps Chrome run fastly.
Why is Chrome not working on my Mac? There should be some common problems you may encounter when Google Chrome too slow. You can check the solutions to Chrome running slow on Mac first:
Learn the detailed Chrome (Mac) problems and solutions to fix slow Chrome on Mac (Google Chrome not working on Mac) now.
Chrome is famous for having fast performance. And fast performance means it gets to use a lot of Mac’s CPU resources compared to other browsers. The higher the CPU usage, the faster the battery drains. Chrome draining battery on Mac can be a problem for most users. Good performance becomes nothing if you cannot turn your Mac on because its battery is already drained.
If the battery life of your Mac is very important to you, there’s a way to help you extend it. Usually, there are tabs or extensions that are eating too much of your resources and this leads to the burning of your battery life.
You can use the steps below to find the said extension or site:
Now, you are able to determine which site or extensions eat up most of your memory within Chrome. These sites can still be visited, although you don’t need to keep them open in a specific tab if you’re not going to use them. Also, even though some sites don’t use up too much memory, having too many tabs open can still eat up your resources. This can lead to battery drain.
Does browser responsiveness tend to be slow? Or even Why Google Chrome is slow and unresponsive? Why do you think is causing Chrome slow to respond and Chrome running slow on Mac? Actually, because Chrome eats up too much of your CPU resources, it tends to slow down when there is not enough resource available.
One fix for Chrome not responding Mac you can do is to involve the cache. Chrome stores your data and history with regards to web browsing in the cache. This can help speed up the surfing experience. However, when your Mac begins to wane in memory or space, it can lead to Mac slowing down and this may cause Google Chrome keeps saying page unresponsive.
Mac cleaning tools can be an easier way to clear up your browser and fix common problems associated with it. You can use the Privacy feature of iMyMac PowerMyMac.
Here's how to use it to fix Chrome running slow on Mac step-by-step:
What if your Chrome browser keeps freezing? The spinning rainbow circle appears on your device for a long time. This issuse is common especially when you continuously use your browser. What you have to do is to delete your browser cache. To fix this, you can follow the steps below.
Here's how to manually delete your Chrome cache to fix Chrome running slow on Mac issue:
Your Google Chrome will not open on Mac? When your browser keeps crashing all the time, it’s a very big issue and it states that something must be broken. But what should we do with it? Of course, we fix it. One of the common causes of crashes is Chrome’s extensions. These extensions actually make our browsing experience faster or more productive. However, they can sometimes be corrupted and introduce bugs into Chrome’s system thus leading to its crash.
But what should you do with problematic Chrome extensions?
First, you have to update everything. You have to ensure Chrome is actually updated to its latest version. The same goes for ALL extensions. If this didn’t work or if everything is already updated to its latest version, one thing you can do is to manually turn off ALL extensions. Then, you can turn them one by one back on. In this way, you can determine which extensions are causing Chrome to crash.
Here’s how to disable and/ or remove Chrome extensions manually to fix Chrome running slow on Mac issue:
Once you have disabled all extensions, turn each one (one at a time). Check out to see which extension causes the crash. If you have found the one causing trouble, you can simply delete this extension by clicking the Trashcan icon located next to it in Settings > Extensions.
Why does Google Chrome take so long to load or even fail to load? Chrome’s message when a page fails to load is: Aw snap! Why is chrome loading so slowly? There are a lot of reasons why a page fails to load in Chrome.
Here are a few fixes for Google Chrome slow to load pages, you can try to repair Chrome running slow on Mac issue:
When you have tried out every possible method of fixing Chrome takes too long to load and it still didn’t work, you may need to reinstall or reset your Chrome browser. Don’t know how to do this? Check out the next part of this guide.
Sometimes, Chrome just won’t update on a Mac device or Chrome will slow after update. First, you have to wait for a few days before the update begins to happen. However, if it’s been a week and the update still didn’t push through, you might need to reset or reinstall your Chrome browser.
Here’s how to manually reset your Chrome browser:
If the browser still doesn’t update after this, you may have to download a specific installation file located in Chrome’s official website and install it again. The installation file should be the latest.
After leaning the ways on how to fix Chrome running slow on Mac issue, there are still a few tweaks you can do to improve your browsing experience in Chrome. Let’s check them out:
Do you want web pages to actually load faster than before? You simply have to go to Settings. Then, go to Advanced Settings and then Privacy. Ensure that “prefetch” is activated or turned on. What happens is your resources will be kept on your system and it automatically loads a web page the next time it is visited.
Chrome has hidden features---features that are currently under development. To access them, you can simply type chrome://flags. Put this in the address bar located at the top of the interface.
Press Enter
afterward. Here are some of the things you can do/ have with this:
Take note that you have to restart Chrome in order for the feature changes to take place. If you want to undo these changes, hit “Reset to Default” on the page you have just entered (chrome://flags).
With just using shortcuts, your browsing experience will be faster. Learn these shortcuts on how to make Chrome faster on Mac and be amazed at how speedy your surfing experience can be:
Command + T
Command + H
Command + R
Other commands can be found in the official support page of Google Chrome here.
Chrome can be a great browser to use when surfing the Internet. But it is not without flaws. You can simply use this guide to fix Chrome running slow on Mac issue and the common problems you find on Mac’s Chrome.
Also, you can use iMyMac PowerMyMac to fix one common Chrome problem found on Mac. If you find yourself stuck, simply go back to this guide to help solve your Chrome problems on Mac. You can also check what is making your Mac slow and use it to clean up all the junk files on your Mac to free up space and this will make your Mac run faster.
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Free DownloadMarshal2019-10-02 07:06:11
Hello there, thanks for the tipsDoes any of the above software hold any surprises after installation, ex; only a trial version, update to pro version for this or that etc etc, cuz I am not interested just piling up software on my mac, since I have an older machine and I am running 10.10.5 on a separate note, what's your suggestion on using firefox vs chrome?please advisethanks
iMyMac2019-10-02 15:08:05
Thanks for your support! Firefox has more features and better performance while Chrome has ease-of-use and security. You can choose them to meet your different needs. But no matter which one you choose, you can use iMyMac's Browser Cleanup to speed up your browser experience. Hope this helps!
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